by Dace Everan
Palo cleared his throat. “Well…now that we have that out of the way.” He looked at Magan. “When does the party start? I’m assuming they’re doing treatments?”
Magan nodded, digging out the schedule she had received from the doctor, handing it to him. She kept her gaze averted from Jariko and the words he had just spoken to her. Palo draped an arm over her shoulders and read it through. “’Kay, I’m free here and here.” He handed the sheet to Jariko. “You available…?”
Jariko looked the list over. He nodded. “For all of them, Kendal is available as well,” he clarified.
Kendal peeked at the sheet, heart cringing. That was a busy schedule. He looked at Jariko. They would have to cancel their big kidnapping plan. Jariko gave his hand a squeeze. Kendal swallowed the lump in his throat and held back the tears. He hadn’t realized he’d grabbed hold of Jariko’s hand. “I…We should set up that room at my place. It’s closest to that clinic. That way Magan won’t have to be in a vehicle that long getting all the way home,” he murmured.
Jariko nodded. Glancing at Magan, she was still crying.
Kendal reached across the table, wiping her tears away. “I have an apartment just down the street…you can stay with us there till you feel strong enough to travel home. Dane and Tavis will watch over you there if you don’t want us there.” He furrowed his brows. “If Dane doesn’t want us there,” he corrected.
Mag shook her head. “I’ve got it figured out,” she assured.
Kendal shook his head, as did Jariko. “Nope, you will stay at my place. Jariko and I will take shifts. You’ll need the help getting around the days after the treatment.”
Palo squeezed her shoulder. “Mag…don’t look a gift horse in the mouth and decline. You can’t do this on your own. You’ve already done enough on your own…I’ll talk to that beautiful daughter of yours.”
Mag shook her head. “No you won’t—I will.” She looked at Kendal and Jariko. “You two…we need to figure us out,” she whispered, more tears rolling.
There was a big us, when it regarded all three of them and she refused to deny it anymore. Tom would have kicked her ass if he knew she was throwing away something that made her as happy as they had.
Chapter Twelve
Mag slumped back on the bed exhausted. Kendal was quick to cover her with the big, fluffy comforter Jariko had bought her. She snuggled down, putting on a smile, tugging the wig from her head, and sighing in relief. Kendal kissed her forehead. “Rest…I heard Jariko’s coming home early tonight. He loves you,” he whispered.
Mag chuckled. “He loves you,” she mumbled.
Kendal smirked, caressing her cheek. Her cheeks had a nice healthy glow this time around. Their last session, they had done it! The doctors said she was in the clear. He caressed the stubble on her head. Shit, she was beautiful. “Love you, Magan,” he whispered, her response easy, light breathing.
* * * *
Jariko entered the upscale apartment. A smile on his face, bouquet of red roses in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other. He tossed the chocolates at Kendal.
Kendal smiled his thanks, plopping down next to Magan on the couch, opening them, offering her one.
She shook her head. “Stomach still feels upset,” she murmured, resting her head against his shoulder, her favorite pink toque snuggling her peach-fuzzed head.
Jariko leaned over, kissing her cheek. “Rosy,” he whispered, holding the flowers in front of her.
She inhaled the floral aroma, sighing. “Thank you,” she whispered, kissing his jaw.
Jariko smiled. “Saw Klea today via webcam at work…girl’s getting quite a paunch,” he commented.
Mag narrowed her eyes. “You saying she’s fat! Girl’s in excellent shape I’ll have you know!” she argued. How dare he talk about Klea like that! So what if she was getting a little round around the waist? God, women got round and then they thinned out. With the way her and Tavis had been getting comfy with life, of course she would gain a few pounds.
Kendal laughed. Even he caught that big warning, and his heart leapt. A baby! Jariko smirked, his poor sweetie. Her head must still be a little fuzzy from the treatment that she didn’t catch that one.
Mag snorted. “She could pack you with ease,” she mumbled, plucking out a rose before he took them away to clip and put in water. She loved touching the petals.
Jariko placed the vase on the coffee table in front of her, grabbed up her laptop, and put it in her lap. “Tavis wanted to talk to you via webcam,” he shared. The two young lovebirds had had to relocate and wouldn’t be home till next week, and Tavis was insistent on sharing his big news with her today.
Mag sighed. She didn’t want to get on the webcam. She hadn’t even taken a shower yet. She poked at the keys, fingers stiff. Kendal’s thumb caressed her neck, and it scorched like mini pins and needles were being dragged across her skin. She ignored the pain and welcomed the comfort of his concern for her.
She peeked at Jariko. “How’d your meeting go this morning?” she asked as the computer slowly loaded.
Jariko grunted. “Going to write a nasty letter to someone about discrimination,” he grumbled.
Kendal leaned over, kissing his cheek. “Want me to go kick the bastard’s ass?” he offered.
Jariko chuckled, returning the kiss. “No.” He grabbed up Magan’s empty glass of water, crossing to the kitchen and refilling it.
When he plopped down, Tavis and Klea were on the screen. “Ah, there he is,” Klea hummed, hugging Tavis’s arm. Tavis grinned like a boy in a candy shop who had free reign.
Magan narrowed her eyes. “You guys passed, didn’t you?” she asked, heart fluttering. They were supposed to take flight tests and she was expecting a big party about this.
Klea giggled, shaking her head. Mag frowned. She failed? What the hell, the girl was a walking brain with the cutest body! Tavis glanced at Jariko then Kendal. “Thought you guys were having Dane over?” Tavis asked. He wanted everyone there! He wasn’t going to share the news of his soon to be fatherhood if his whole family wasn’t there, and from the picture coming to his end of the computer screen, Dane wasn’t in attendance on the other end.
Jariko sighed. “Told her to be here,” he commented. He had thought she had finally stopped playing this game. Shit, it took all year to get her to stop thinking they were using her mother as a tool for them to relieve themselves. Shit, if the girl knew how afraid they were to even touch Magan she would be hugging them for being so saintly.
Tavis slumped. “Well, shit, text her would you, and tell her to get the stick out of her ass and quit acting like a spoiled brat,” he grumbled. The buzzer for the apartment rang, and Kendal raced across the room, pushing the button to let her in.
Dane glared at all of them when she entered, loaded down with bags. She glanced around. “Where’s Tavis and Klea?” she demanded, irked that she had been the one who volunteered to pack all this crap up. Her heart softened at the thought of all the pretty, soft, baby paraphernalia she was about to unload for her mother to see.
Mag held up the laptop. “The princess has landed. I repeat. The princess has landed,” Mag droned. Laughter filled the room.
Dane scoffed, crossing the room and lugging the many bags. “’Kay, Tavis, got everything,” she uttered, waiting for his signal.
Tavis smiled. “Jariko and Kendal, make sure mom doesn’t peek,” he ordered and watched two pairs of hands cover her eyes.
Mag chuckled. “Oh are we going to do this again?” she teased. Jariko and Kendal smirked.
Dane groaned. “I’m going to kill you, Tavis. You should have let me be with Klea and you here with them.” It had been a year and half, and still she was having a hard time accepting these two as her mother’s boyfriends. She pulled out the little baby comforter, holding it up.
Kendal shook his head. “Upside down, harpy!” he uttered.
Magan tipped her head and bit down on the first hand in her grasp.
Jariko grunted.
“Wrong hand!” he howled.
Tavis laughed. “Hurry, Dane,” he ordered, laughter in his voice. Klea already posed, baby bump out on show.
Jariko kissed her temple. “Ready for this, Magan?” he asked.
Magan shook her head. “I don’t want to see. You guys did something nasty didn’t you?” she questioned, eyes clenched tight. Big hands moved away from her face.
Kendal laughed. “Oh shit, that’s funny! They sure did do something nasty,” he replied, eyeing the beautiful baby bump on Klea. Shit, the girl was glowing.
Magan opened her eyes as Tavis fingered Kendal, and her eyes rounded at the picture before her. “Holy shit!” Her arms flung up in utter astonishment, followed by surprise, then joy.
Kendal dove for the laptop as it flew.
Dane cried, dodging for the laptop, stopping it from crashing to the floor.
Magan screamed. “Oh shit, they’re having a baby!” she cried, finally seeing the blanket with Grandma’s baby embroidered on the front.
She grabbed Jariko, shaking him then hugging him close, as Kendal and Dane saved the laptop from despair. She hooted, grabbing the laptop from Kendal. “You sneaky little bastards, how did you hide this from me! How far along are we? What are we having? Have you gone for an ultrasound?” Her mind blew up with thousands of questions. Her heart bubbled with overflowing happiness.
She gripped Jariko’s shirt. “We’ll need cribs, bubbas, suckies, and baby clothes! Shit, we need to go shopping.” She looked at Kendal. “Tomorrow we go shopping—I’m going to be a grandma!” She stopped then, staring at the screen, glancing at Kendal and Jariko. “Shit!” It struck her. She was going to be a grandma…grandmas didn’t have two boyfriends. She staggered back, the colour draining from her face. She thought she was past caring what anyone thought about her. She inhaled sharp breaths. Her grandchild would judge her!
Dane draped the blanket in her lap, hugging her close. “I hope it’s a girl,” she murmured.
Mag looked at her, heart constricting. She shoved aside her doubts. She would not think about tomorrow. She would think about today and this moment right now. Dane had been so distant this last year and a half. She hugged her close. “Sorry, Kendal, you stay home. I’m going with Dane,” she declared, shoving her away looking at the blanket. “Oh my God…” She looked at the screen. Klea was gingerly tugging down her shirt, making sure it was all in place.
“How far along are you?” she asked.
Klea smiled. “Five months.”
Tavis held up a picture. “Tell me when I’m getting too close,” he murmured. Mag stared in awe at the photo. She reached out to the screen that was her grandbaby.
Jariko kissed the top of her head. Kendal kissed her cheek. “I think that’s a lot of cribs we have to get. One for them, one for here, one for the acreage, and one for Jariko’s?”
Jariko laughed. “Nope, that one’s out. I’m moving in here,” he announced.
Dane snorted. “No. You’re all moving into Mom’s…Kendal’s renting me this place while I go to school,” she announced.
Everyone stared at her.
Mag gasped. “What?”
Dane sighed. “I talked to douche…he offered up his apartment, even though Satan’s is bigger.”
Jariko snorted. “Told you I would hand it over,” he argued.
Dane grunted. “Don’t want it handed over.”
Tavis laughed. “You’ll regret that after you start paying bills,” he chirped, hugging Klea close. “We’re coming home next week, Mom. Just have a few more things to wrap up here.”
Mag nodded. “I have free reign to buy what I want?” she asked.
Tavis nodded. “Crib for your place, yes, that would be awesome…Need a babysitter.”
Mag nodded. They wanted to purchase their own things for their home. She glanced at Jariko. She would have to get him to help her with some financial issues regarding the two.
* * * *
Jariko slumped down next to her, breathless and eyes on her. She looked so beautiful all flushed and panting. Her mouth opened the slightest bit, her hot breath fanning his face.
Kendal hugged her close, spooning her, his hand clasping hers while Jariko took hold of her other hand. “I think we should do that again,” she hummed after a few silent minutes.
Kendal beamed.
Jariko chuckled. “Someone’s feisty,” he replied, finger tracing her jaw. Her recovery was excellent. Already she sported a nice crew cut that Dane had convinced her to spike. Of course, Magan made Dane cut her hair the same style. Kendal nibbled her ear. He sported the same look. Jariko felt like an ass, as he wasn’t big about short hair…Magan had threatened to kill him if he cut his hair though. He nibbled on her fingertips. Kendal pulled her back, spreading her out.
She sighed, eyes closing. She really hoped they were fine with her just lying here and basking in their touches. Jariko nibbled on her lips. She smiled. “That tickles,” she whispered, tummy contracting as Kendal whispered kisses across her tummy.
Jariko hummed, kissing her nose. “Did your doctor say we can take you away?” he asked.
She nodded. “You had better have me back in time for the birth. I swear, you make me miss that, I will kill you both,” she uttered.
Kendal chuckled. “Are you kidding? I can’t wait till Klea has her baby…I think I might steal him.” He stopped and gave her a thoughtful look. “Or her,” he murmured as a second thought. He had been in a battle with the harpy, insisting it was a boy while she argued it was a girl.
Magan giggled, lifting her arm. She sighed as it dropped back to the bed weakly. “’Kay, sorry, I thought I was stronger,” she whispered, shoving the frustration to the back of her mind. The last year they had been very restrictive with her. She had to literally jump them to get any, and now that she was in the clear…she didn’t have the energy. Her mind yelled to go, her body pleaded out no.
Jariko pulled up the comforter, snuggling her close. “Your skin hurt again?” he asked. She shook her head. It did and it was pure torture, but she wanted to feel them. Kendal sighed, climbing over her, passed Jariko, and settled in, his hand clasping hers. “Maybe we should wait on the trip? Like three years,” he offered.
Mag peeked at him past Jariko. “Why three years?” she asked. Was he fucking crazy! No way was she waiting three years to go lie on a hot beach with them.
Kendal grinned. “Well, baby will be old enough to put in daycare. You’ll be totally recovered. It will be hard on your immune system to take the shot to go to the tropical islands.”
Magan slumped. “Don’t stall the trip because of me,” she whined.
Jariko kissed her forehead. “Not stalling because of you…Kendal’s right. Klea will need help, and we should be here for her and Tavis.” He clutched her and Kendal’s hands, kissing both. “Dane is finally easing up.” He glanced back at Kendal. “What the hell is with calling her cinnamon bit?” he mumbled.
Kendal chuckled. “Magan is cinnamon, so that makes Dane cinnamon bit,” he replied.
Magan laughed. “That’s too cute.” She sighed, eyes struggling to stay open. “Yes, cinnamon bit is getting better. She wants to talk to you, Kendal.”
Kendal scoffed. “Not doing a show for her and her friends,” he replied airily.
Jariko chuckled. “Oh come on, Kendal, a room full of girls ogling you.”
Kendal shuddered in disgust. “Don’t mind doing it at work, but those private shows…” He shook his head. “They think because they paid you that includes touching…sorry, last time I checked I ain’t no cheap piece of meat for you to paw up.”
Magan sighed, struggling to get up.
Jariko was instantly up, his hands out to help.
“Shh, back down,” she ordered crawling onto him, slumping across his chest. “’Kay…sleepy time for me.” she whispered breathlessly.
Jariko cupped the back of her head. Her hand flopped onto Kendal. “Night loves,” she whispered, already drifting.
&nb
sp; Jariko peeked at Kendal after a few silent moments. Kendal offered a solemn smile. “She hurts tonight,” he whispered.
Jariko nodded. He had felt it, too. Not to mention she didn’t react how she normally would have. He exhaled a deep breath. “I love her so much, Kendal.”
Kendal nodded. “Love you, too,” he whispered.
Jariko grinned. “So glad I went out that night,” he mumbled, eyes closing.
Kendal smirked. “Me, too,” he murmured, snuggling closer to Jariko. Turned out all three of them had had no intention of going to that social that night. Each of them had been pushed into it. Who would have thought being forced to give life a second chance and take a leap of faith would have given them this kind of happiness?
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am the proud mother of two wonderful children who are soon going to enter the tween years. Aahhh save me! I started dabbling in writing at a young age. My first story was a twisted story about bunny rabbits and a little girl in a mystical forest, an evil mother who wanted nothing more than rabbit stew. (I was eight). My older sister introduced me to romance novels at the tender age of eleven and I've loved them since.
I find being able to create a world of wonderful characters an amazing achievement. I had always figured historical romance was where my heart laid, but after reading a few BDSM and erotica e-books, my mind was changed and I have never felt so comfortable in my life than in being able to create wonderful people and bring them together with a little spank and tickle.
I love sci-fi and zombies! Horror flicks and nightmares are a normal for me. I once had a dream about rainbows and sunshine and unicorns and lovey dovey stuff and that scared the hell out of me. Happy dreams are not normal for me. I love music, anything from Never Ending White Lights, White Stripes, to Lana Del Ray maybe some Waylon Jennings. I am all over the place in the music.
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